Rusty vintage bombs found in Mandaue

Some 500 rounds of assorted types of bombs believed to date back to the second World War were found along Mandaue City’s shoreline Thursday afternoon.

For security reasons, police refused to divulge the exact location where the bombs were found.

Police cordoned off a 50-square meter area where they recovered assorted artillery rounds or vintage bombs, some of which were corroded by rust while others no longer have a fuse.

Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, deputy city director for operations of the Mandaue City Police Office, said the shells could still possibly explode.

“The fuse is very sensitive to impact,” he said, pointing out that each vintage bomb, though old, still contains explosive powder.

When police arrived past 6 p.m. following a concerned citizen’s report that vintage bombs were scattered in the area.

Some were submerged in the sea while others were piled up like rocks, Tolentino said.

“Some have the same size as a softdrink one-liter bottle,” Tolentino said in Cebuano. “We need an expert to look into this,” Tolentino said.

The area where the vintage bombs were recovered is about 300 meters away from houses and near a cargo shipyard.

Tolentino said there is no need to evacuate residents as the bombs will soon be removed to a safer area.